This post gives an honest, unbiased review for Norwex cleaning supplies from a naturally-minded mom. (Not a Norwex rep!)
I have spent at least eleventy billion hours cleaning my house thus far.
Okay, that’s a total lie. If that were true it would be a heck of a lot more sparkling clean around here. Half that number, then half it again, then – oh never mind.
Let’s just say that while I love a clean and sparkling house, the actual scrub-a-dub-dub doesn’t set my heart a-flutter. You feel me?
That’s why the cleaning tools that I use (when I use them, ahem) need to be top-notch. No messing around with sub-par stuff that takes longer and doesn’t work as well, thus requiring me to clean *more* often. Ain’t nobody got time for that amirite?!
Messy house whining aside, when it comes down to it – we all have to clean sooner or later. Some sooner, some later, but that’s beside the point. And you probably want to do it with as few toxic chemicals as possible. (Read more about the ingredients in conventional cleaning supplies here.)
More ways to avoid toxins: in your drinking water (Hidden Toxins in Your Drinking Water), in your cleaning supplies (“Check out my unbiased norwex review“), in your body care items (how to find a natural deodorant that works), in your menstrual supplies (Guide to Reusable Menstrual Supplies) and in the summer (3 Toxins to Avoid This Summer (& What to Use Instead))
Detoxing your cleaning supplies is one of the easiest baby steps to take toward a more natural, toxin-free lifestyle, and may I just say: Norwex is my ultimate favorite non-toxic cleaning product. I have happily used several Norwex products for nine years now, so writing this post was a total no-brainer.
Note: I’m not a Norwex rep, and have never been one. I’m just a satisfied customer and a naturally-minded mom who wants natural products that actually work. This was originally a review post that was sponsored by a Norwex rep friend, but she has since closed up shop, so I’ve added some amazon affiliate links for Norwex products below, as well as a few to a well-reviewed competitor so that you can check out both.
Why is Norwex Better?
After hours of research and many years of personal experience in using Norwex products – I believe Norwex is the best quality natural cleaning product on the market right now (with one possible competitor – see below).
Here are some key reasons I love my Norwex cleaning supplies with the fiery passion of a thousand lovers (or something along those lines…)
1. Norwex Products are Anti-Bacterial
The basic premise is that the incredible quality of the microfiber picks up even the tiniest particles and organisms when it’s wet, including germs, which are then rinsed down the drain when you rinse the cloth out. The cloth then disinfects itself naturally while it dries and awaits your next use.
There are two factors here that relate to the anti-bacterial claims.
A) Significantly Higher-Quality Microfibre
Average store-bought microfibre cloths are probably an average of around 1/16th the width of a human hair, whereas Norwex microfibre is 1/200th. This effectively means that Norwex cloths are far superior at grabbing up dirt and germs that you can’t even see – leaving the surface cleaner than the alternative.
B) Embedded Silver (aka “BacLock”)
Many Norwex products are also labeled “BacLock”, which means that they contain a silver-based agent embedded into the tiny microfibres of the cloth.
Silver is a naturally anti-bacterial agent. According to this study: “the antibacterial activity of silver has long been known and has found a variety of applications because its toxicity to human cells is considerably lower than to bacteria.”
Side note: I use colloidal silver on occasion for medicinal purposes, and have been very successful with it. I especially like the spray for sore throats. This study found that silver has antiviral properties.
The silver in the cloth is not meant to disinfect the surface (a common misconception) but rather it’s designed to inhibit bacterial growth, mold, and mildew in the cloth itself as it dries over a 24-hour period.
Note: It’s still recommended to launder it after especially heavy-duty uses, like raw meat juices on the counter, or cleaning the toilet, but for regular everyday use you can simply rinse it well and hang to dry. I love not having to throw my kitchen cloth in the wash every time I use it.
With regular cloths I only let them go about half a day before throwing them in the laundry. With my Norwex kitchen cloth, I wait more like 3-5 days.
2. Norwex Actually Cleans Better Than the Alternatives – Natural or Not!
This is perhaps the best part of all. Once I started using a norwex window cloth, I refused to use anything else on all of my stainless steel and glass. It’s absolutely incredible. I honestly wouldn’t have imagined the difference it would make, but it really, really does.
I clean my stainless steel faucet with a regular ol’ cloth + homemade cleaning spray… and it’s clean (with more scrubbing), but full of streaks and smudgy spots. The Norwex window cloth makes it as flawlessly shiny as when it was brand new. No kidding.
And since shiny things are my favorite, the window cloth is my BFF. It does the same for mirrors and other glass. It impresses the heck right outta me. Dare I say: it *almost* makes cleaning legitimately fun.
Check out this photo I posted on Instagram a while ago to show my glass shower, cleaned with my Norwex window cloth.
On the left = gross soap scum, and on the right = the CLOSED shower door that I had just cleaned with just my wet Norwex window cloth. Amazing, right?!
3. Norwex is Actually Cheaper in the Long Run
With Norwex, I would advise to prepare for sticker shock, but also – in my normally-very-frugal opinion, the Norwex cloths are actually worth the money because they last so long and are total workhorses in their efficiency.
You should also know that Norwex is no cheap dollar store microfiber. Cheaply made microfiber cannot compare – I’ve used them, and thrown it in the back of my closet never to see the light of day again. They’re a clearly superior product to anyone who tries them.
My enviro cloths and window cloth that I bought nine years ago (a 4-pack of the travel sized cloths in order to save money back then!) are still going strong, and I still favor them over all other cleaning supplies. I figure they’ve probably saved me a ton of time and money by now simply by being so much more efficient than other options, and lasting this long without wearing out. (I’ve since added a couple more cloths to my collection so that I can keep them in different spots in the house.)
Plus – think of all of the disposable cloths, towels, and sprays that people buy… I haven’t bought that stuff in years other than some toilet bowl cleaner!
4. Norwex Makes Cleaning Simple and Easy
Norwex products are completely free of harmful chemicals, yet you can use them with only water for maximum efficacy! In fact, soap can clog the fibers, so it’s recommended to stick with water.
Because they’re free of the toxic chemicals found in conventional (and some so-called “natural” or “organic”) cleaners (check out this article at the EWG for info on the lack of transparency in labeling on cleaning and personal care products), they are totally perfect for anyone that has allergies or chemical sensitivities. Or, you know, lungs.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t especially want to breathe in more toxic chemicals that what’s already around me in items I can’t avoid – like furniture, product packaging, and more. Also, in case you haven’t already – you can check out the safety rating on your favorite cleaning products at the Environmental Working Group’s database here.
I also LOVE that I can just wet it and go. No hauling out an assortment of cleaning scrubs and sprays – just wetting it provides enough ‘oomph’ to the cloth to clean almost any mess. (I do have one small jar of their cleaning paste that I use and love for tough jobs.)
And of course, the fact that I can clean pretty well my whole house with just a few cloths or scub mitts is pretty amazing. I love the simplicity of this system!
Which Norwex Products are Best?
In case I haven’t made myself clear yet: I honestly love Norwex.
- Enviro Cloth (I have several, and keep them in different rooms for quick usage!)
- Kitchen Cloth (I adore the thickness of this cloth, and the deep grooves that easily scrub away tough kitchen messes. I use it every day.)
- Dusting Mitt (absolutely perfect for my kids to use – they think it’s great fun, and it actually picks up dust amazingly well with ease.)
- Bathroom Scrub Mitt (cleaning the tub is so easy with this mitt. This thing has serious scrubbing power.
- Cleaning Paste (I use this stuff only when my regular Norwex cloths fail me… so, rarely. And it only takes a small bit. But it’s great to get the tough spots that you figure were a lost cause – like toddler art on your walls.)
Is Norwex an MLM?
Yes, Norwex’s business structure is that of a multi-level marketing company. This is not the same as a pyramid scheme – those are illegal. An MLM is a company like Tupperware or Pampered Chef (or hundreds of others) where the sales reps sell to you directly and get a commission (some MLM companies also allow you to buy directly from the website or amazon, but many do not), but they have the most earning potential by recruiting others under them to join as sales reps. Each rep tries to recruit more people, hence the “multi-level” marketing.
Lots of people have criticisms of the MLM model, and honestly – I agree with some of them. I think that the prices of most MLM products are inflated, and that’s usually because there are a lot of people needing to get paid in the pipeline. With non-MLM companies, you’re not paying a sales rep, so prices can be lower. MLMs will claim that their product is superior, but that’s not always true. Many MLMs offer an excellent product – like Norwex – but they’re not necessarily the only ones doing so. Which leads me to…
Are There Comparable Alternatives to Norwex?
Personally, I’m a huge fan of my Norwex products that I’ve been happily been using for years. I’ve raved about them to family and friends, and because they’re so well-made and durable, I haven’t had the opportunity/need to try any other brands (other than the dollar-store cloths, which were a mistake).
However – I did some research on alternatives to Norwex, and one brand was mentioned by numerous different sources as being comparable in quality, but lower in price, and it’s called eCloth.
I have not actually used any of their products, but based on their excellent reviews and comparable claims, I wanted to let you know about them. They’re a lower-priced option you might want to try if Norwex is out of your budget. If I ever try them myself (if my Norwex cloths ever wear out!) then I’ll be sure to come back here and update with my opinion.
Whatever you use to clean your home, consider investing in some good-quality tools to do it. You don’t need to spend extra time and frustration on cleaning. Clean less, enjoy life more!
Don’t miss my Spring Cleaning Checklist: The Ultimate Guide for Busy Families!
Sources
1. Lansdown, Alan B G. “A pharmacological and toxicological profile of silver as an antimicrobial agent in medical devices.” Advances in pharmacological sciences vol. 2010 (2010): 910686. doi:10.1155/2010/910686
2. Chang, Te-Wen, Weinstein, Louis. “In Vitro Activity of Silver Sulfadiazine against Herpesvirus hominis.” The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 132, Issue 1 (1975) doi.org/10.1093/infdis/132.1.79
Nancy
How much does the cloth cost?
Beth
I don’t honestly remember! It has been years since I bought mine (and they’re still going strong). More than the cheap cloths you buy at the supermarket, but not crazy expensive, either.
cathy bachek
The window cloth & enviro cloth combo can be purchased for $32.99
plus s/h & sales tax. I’m a new consultant, here is my website, if you’d
like to take a look.
https://cathybachek.norwex.biz/
This review is very accurate, I love all their products!
Alyson LeMaster
Hi Nancy,
The Envirocloth is roughly $16. If you would like to take a peak online and do some shopping please check my site out. alysonlemaster.norwex.biz
DEBORAH MILLER
you can type in 2019 norwex catalog on line .their 18.49 for envio cloth also they run specials
Cathie Meyer
I’m a fairly new Norwex user but have several different products and have already booked my first party! I have to say the laundry soap is my favorite. Notice I said “soap”. That’s all it is, pure soap, there are no chemicals of phosphates!
1. Price same as large liquid Tide w/spout w/about 250 loads
Norwex = 1,000 loads using I level teaspoon for each load
2. Have not needed bleach since using Norwex
3. Have not needed fabric softener since using Norwex
4. Gives clothes a pleasant fragrance – very mild – just smells clean!
5. Brightens clothes
6. My host told me for really dirty and/or smelly loads to add a 1/2 cup vinegar, have only had to do that once & it worked great
I also really like the dust mitt! I read all the other reviews and anyone who says it does not pick up dust is not using it correctly! Its a marvel! Love the window/glass cloth too! There is nothing I don’t like, these are just my 3 favorites!
MamaV
Yeah, I finally drank the Norwex kool-aid… I love how my shiny things actually look nice now 🙂
Jill
The cleaning paste contains Methylisothiazolinone, a harmful chemical.
Kim
Nope.
The cleaning paste contains only 3 ingredients: marble flour, natural soap and coconut oil. i have no idea what methyliso blah blah blah is, but it’s not in Norwex!!
Julie Powell
What is “natural soap”?
Kendra
You are a consultant and you really think it only has 3 ing?
Look it up in Ask Nora.
Methylisothiazolinone is a skin irritant and the main reason dryer sheets are so toxic. In our paste it’s in very small amounts and we use so little paste at a time that most people aren’t affected by it.
I know this is an older post and genuinely hope you aren’t still promoting such lies. Most of our non-cloth products use ing that aren’t 100% pure/natural. The reason I am personally okay with it is because they are in minuscule amounts and we use so little of the cleaner at a time that we aren’t affected. Also because a call to poison control with these products assures me that my kids aren’t going to die/become horribly sick if they ingest them.
Ariane
There are more than 3 ingredients in Cleaning Paste. Those 3 listed are the 3 main ingredients however. 🙂 Norwex consultant here.
Erin pilarski
I do love the Norwex product also. But just lately after mopping my wood floor with the floor system I’m getting a lot of streaks left behind. I do wash the pad between each use with Norwex laundry soap. Have also boiled the mop pad. I wonder if anyone else is experiencing the same problem?
Kim
Perhaps you have the pad too wet? It should only be damp enough to cogently clean the floor, not leave streaks and puddles behind. Wet it totally, wring it out well, and place on mop base.
Viviana
I really don’t like your products I hate it…. I clean houses and nope don’t works…. All bathrooms looks sharp and the glove leave dust instead to pick it up they serve but only with any bleach
Celane
I have started using Norwex products and I’m so impressed! I started with a very open mind, but the cloths have sold themselves to me. What has truly amazed me about the kitchen cloth, apart from all the usual facts that is just amazingly good at cleaning, but about a week ago I got turmeric stains all over my white formica bench tops and my stove. So I grabbed my Norwex kitchen cloth and wiped it all out …. but eeeek – now my cloth was stained yellow. I washed it by hand with a good quality liquid soap and the stains faded a little. BUT – I’m amazed to say that gradually bit by bit each day my cloth did exactly what Norwex says it does – it cleaned itself. That’s what the silver in the fibres does. Now this morning I couldn’t see any trace of yellow stains at all – its like new again.
Oh …. and my mirrors and windows!! But I’ve said enough – I don’t want to live without my Norwex cloths!!
Alyson LeMaster
Sounds like you might want some more products!!? Contact me if you would like to host a party. April has some wonderful rewards!
Mark Fischer
We use microfiber towels everywhere in our house. But Norwex is so overpriced. You can get Eurow towels on Amazon or Ebay for a fraction of the cost.
Amanda
I’ve never had experience with other brands but i can say that generally you pay for the quality you want. Norwex cloths come with a 2 year warranty and most times last 2-3x times longer than that warranty. Again I’m not sure if these other brands hold up the same way but I think the quality of Norwex is worth the cost, especially when you consider how much money you are actually saving by switching from chemical cleaners and paper towels. I also don’t know if those other brands feature the microsilver that can actually clean the cloths much more efficiently. Plus I like the benefit of supporting a consultant and company that has many charitable contributions instead of a corporation.
Debra Bohachevsky
I read the description on Amazon. They do not appear to be infused with the silver threads.
Gabrielle
Please do not buy Norwex from Amazon. Those cloths may be fake and are often overpriced. Please contact a consultant to get further information about the cloths. The majority of Norwex cloths have BacLock which is the silver texhnology that is used. There are a few that don’t have it for specific reasons. I just urge you to steer clear of amazon for products like this.
Heather
I have used both the cheap microfiber and Norwex. NOrwex is definitely better quality. Totally worth the extra money.
Skye Richey
The only difference I’d the are not woven with silver which is what keeps the bacteria at bay and what keeps them from smelling. You can always find a cheaper line….. But with the knock offs come a less effective product. So it’s definitely your choice but I choose spending a little more for a higher and more effective quality item.
Leah
I’ve never used Norwex, too pricey, but I did order some clothes from Flyday. They are very good and do not require everyday laundering if you give them a good rinse.
Pam Baker
Totally agree my friend…
Angie
I have ordered several from FlyLady but I haven’t heard of Flyday. What are they like?
Andrea
Does FlyLady offer a TWO
YEAR Warranty on their cloth? Norwex does.
Does FlyLady have silver woven into their cloths that has been proven to stop bacteria from multiplying?
Does Flylady’s cloths have threads 1/5 the size of a human hair (definition of microfiber) OR does it have fibers 1/200 the size of a human hair? I’d love to show you the difference with a sample!!!
Join my group on Facebook, “Clean Green 2B Safe” for more education, facts and research as well as letting me know you would like a sample cloth mailed to you!!
Nancy
Came across your post. I’m just curious how Norwex products fare on very dirty jobs, like scummy and moldy showers. Any experience? Thanks
Beth
I’m not sure about mold (I am very cautious about mold and would want to use specific mold remediation tools so as to avoid negative health effects) but in terms of really dirty or scummy situations – the norwex cloths are fantastic. They get heavy grime off much easier than a regular cloth. I love them and use them for all of my household cleaning. 🙂
Lisa
I also use the Norwex descaler for scummy showers. If I need a boost, I have used the cleaning paste.
Amanda
Norwex just came out with a fantastic and safe Mold and Mildew Cleaner!
Ashley
Our bathroom mitt has a scrubby side and it works wonders, however we also have a descaler and a cleaning paste to pair with if you need a little extra boost to get the gunk off. http://Ashleycoonce.norwex.biz
Cara
My husband’s late wife was a smoker in this house for 30 years. After we married and I moved in, it was my turn to clean the house top to bottom. I wanted to rid the house of 30 years of built up smoke residue, not to mention just the “making the house mine” and all that. I had my two Norwex cloths, my enviro cloth and my window cloth – that I didn’t even know I had! I had only just heard of Norwex from my mom, and then discovered that I had a couple cloths in my drawer! I decided to try them! I cleaned the entire house! I started in my bathroom with my glass shower, moved through there, and went all the way to the kitchen where I ended with scrubbing kitchen cabinets – I made the wood cabinets a whole shade lighter when I got the smoke residue off. I scrubbed walls, I scrubbed lights, windows, baseboards, the stove, counters, some tile, everything except toilet and floor. My husband cleaned the refridgerator and became a believer himself – he was convinced it was a scam. We have since bought the mop, the duster, the veggie cloth, the rubber brush, the scrubbing compound, the laundry detergent, the counter cloths. I seriously am considering becoming a consultant, just because I want to buy everything.
I loved microfiber before, but there is a huge difference between the less expensive harbor freight variety, the better farberware variety, and Norwex. I was happy with farberware to polish my Princess house, until I tried Norwex.
mothersworld
Wonderful post! We are linking to this great content on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
Dana
I’ve been a Norwex freak for about the last 5 years. I have so many items. I’ll put a plug in for the laundry detergent (you use so little it lasts forever) and the fact that I can keep my kitchen washcloth in my sink for about 4 weeks, without washing it and it does not smell like normal washrags do after only a few days. And the enviro clothes=awesome sauce. I haven’t bought Windex in almost 6 years!
Beth
Yep – those enviroclothes are a game-changer, right? I still love mine, years later!
DEBORAH MILLER
yes I also can keep my dish Cloths O for about 2 or 3 weeks without washing them I just rinse them out after I use them I hang above my sink, they never smell I was constantly buying dish rags dishcloths once or twice a month from the store because it always get stinkier smell like oil So I got into norwax and became a consultant also, I do love the fact that I don’t have to keep running out to the store to buy more products to wash with I can use the norwax and that last forever, I did have a rip in one no questions asked they sent me a new 1 it was there in 3 days
Laurie Bryant
What a great review! I totally agree about the window cloth. Where has that thing been all my life?!?! I cringe thinking of all the Windex I’ve inhaled over the years. My personal faves (in addition to some of yours) are the kitchen towels and the body cloth.
Sarah D.
Do you know if they have anything that gets ink off of painted walls?
Laurie Bryant
Yes. Just a wet EnviroCloth may work. If not, the EnviroCloth plus Cleaning Paste will work. You may want to test in an inconspicuous area first. Different paint finishes will work better with the CP.
Raye
Norwex also sells a version of ‘magic eraser’ squares. That’s not what Norwex calls them, but I can’t remember the item name off the top of my head! I’ve used them to take marker, ink and crayon of our painted walls.
Beth
Good to know! 🙂
DEBORAH MILLER
They are called micro cleaning hand pads come in a 2 pack
Janice Soto
Great review. I have tried them several times. Norwex is a great company. Most of their products are not expensive at all. Thank you for sharing this article! Best regards!
Heather
The dusting mitt link gives me an error message, but the others are fine. 🙂
Heather
Whoops, I lied. The enviro cloth choked too. I thought it had loaded.
Jocelyn Brown
Very cool thank you, I have been wondering about these. I am especially interested to hear that you don’t have to wash them as often – I am similar to you in that I can barely go half a day before I feel like I need to throw my dishcloths/rags into the laundry… and doing that much laundry is not cool with me 🙂
Joy
Great review, Beth! I just became a Norwex consultant, and I’m so excited to share this product with my little world – it really is amazing stuff!
Karla
thanks for the review Iam interested in placing an order but in order to list you as a host,, I need to know your last name. Thanks!!
Beth
It’s Ricci. I’ll update the post with that info. Sorry about that!
Andrea B
I’m confused. To enter the giveaway we buy product? Or host a party? Or both? She’s in NH so I would think hosting a party at my house in California might be a problem…
Beth
Hi Andrea, sorry it’s confusing! I’ve updated the post a little to clarify the requirement. To enter the giveaway, simply make a minimum $40 purchase and make sure you enter my name as the host. No hosting necessary on your end.
Andrea B
That makes much more sense! Lol. I probably shouldn’t enter giveaways at 1am! Obviously, I can’t figure them out!